Fatwa ID: 07460
Answered by: Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question:
Waitrose replied back to me saying their own brand of croissant and crumpets contains brewer’s yeast. I have read that there is a difference of opinion regarding whether brewer’s yeast is permissible to consume. I also read that Torula yeast is impermissible to consume if it is produced from pure wine.
My question is what is the majority view regarding brewer’s yeast and can I eat food containing it? Also, burger buns, bread, fish fingers, cod fish, naan and other items contain yeast. Can I eat these without checking what type of yeast it is or do I always need to contact the manufacturer?
For example, when buying a burger, a panini wrap or naan from the shops or restaurant (take away or eat in) can I just eat it without knowing what type of yeast it is?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Yeast is a naturally occurring product on the skin of fruits and berries but can also be found in the soil and in the air. It is one of the earliest domesticated organisms and is still used for producing bread, beer, and wine, as well as many other products through natural fermentation
Brewers’ yeast is one of the types of yeast which is used in fermenting sugar in malt to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide in beer making. It is also grown on food crops to make nutritional supplements. Brewer’s yeast sourced from plants and crops is permissible. If, when buying a burger, panini wrap or naan from the shops or restaurant, it can be determined that the brewer’s yeast is from plants or crops then it is permissible.
However, with regards to brewer’s yeast produced from alcohol, if it can be proven that complete transformation has occurred of the alcohol within the yeast, then it will be permissible for one to use such a product. However, if this cannot be proved then it will not be permissible due to the presence of alcohol.
Due to this disputed aspect, scholars have differed on the permissibility of using brewer’s yeast in food. The doubtful nature of the product is from the perspective of when it is extracted from the beer formation. From this point of view, it becomes doubtful and since it is connected to beer making it is best avoided. It falls under that which is doubtful which the Prophet ﷺ of Allah forbade.
Hasan ibn Ali reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said:
“Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt. Verily, truth brings peace of mind and falsehood sows doubt.”
[Al-Tirmidhī 2518]
عن الحسن بْنِ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لَا يَرِيبُكَ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ طُمَأْنِينَةٌ وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ رِيبَةٌ
2518 سنن الترمذي كتاب صفة القيامة والرقائق والورع باب منه
3378 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح في صحيح الجامع
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
